EP0501831A1 - Manufacture of aircraft track-cans and the like - Google Patents
Manufacture of aircraft track-cans and the like Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0501831A1 EP0501831A1 EP19920301743 EP92301743A EP0501831A1 EP 0501831 A1 EP0501831 A1 EP 0501831A1 EP 19920301743 EP19920301743 EP 19920301743 EP 92301743 A EP92301743 A EP 92301743A EP 0501831 A1 EP0501831 A1 EP 0501831A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- track
- blank
- hat
- manufacturing
- cap
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64C9/00—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders
- B64C9/14—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders forming slots
- B64C9/22—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders forming slots at the front of the wing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64C9/00—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders
- B64C9/14—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders forming slots
- B64C9/22—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders forming slots at the front of the wing
- B64C9/26—Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders forming slots at the front of the wing by multiple flaps
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T50/00—Aeronautics or air transport
- Y02T50/40—Weight reduction
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the manufacture of aircraft track-cans or the like.
- Aerodynamic flying control surfaces such as slats and flaps are often powered by a system of rotary actuators and rack and pinions located in the leading edge of aircraft wings.
- the racks are arcuate to provide the required flap or slat movement and must extend into the main wing structure when retracted.
- fuel it is quite common, particularly on large modern airliners, for fuel to be contained within the main wing structure.
- the wing is constructed in the form of a sealed container and means are provided to isolate the racks of the rack and pinions used to drive the flaps and slats from the fuel. It is known to provide apertures in the leading wall of the wing structure through which the racks may pass into the interior of flanged cans, known as track-cans, sealingly surrounding the apertures inside the wing structure.
- the track-cans are preferably made generally cylindrical but with arcuate longitudinal axes conforming to the arcuate movement of the racks they are to contain.
- the manufacture of track-cans thus shaped has hitherto comprised forming the cans (for example, by drop hammering) in two identical halves, split along the longitudinal axis, i.e. along the arc of the rack when retracted. After forming a flange is present around the periphery of each of the halves which must be removed before welding them together. This operation can lead to inaccuracies in the component, and, after removal of the flange, the halves are prone to distortion when handled.
- the two halves are initially tack welded together (in an attempt to prevent relative movement therebetween) and subsequently seam welded to form the required track-can.
- the seam welding process is difficult to perform manually and, furthermore, is not readily automated because of the long and arcuate nature of the seam. Further, formation of the two halves of the track-can requires a tool of unconventional shape but relatively high tolerance.
- a method of manufacturing a track-can or the like including the steps of: separately manufacturing at least a cap-end and a flange-end for the track-can, at least one of which is made by deep drawing from a blank cut from suitable metal, and each having an interface region; and welding the flange-end and the cap-end at their interface regions to form the track-can.
- the cap-end of the track-can is manufactured by cutting a blank of predetermined shape from a sheet of suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep draw machine pre-forming it into a top-hat shape by means of a punch, drawing the top-hat into an elongated shape with a predetermined end profile and expanding the drawn cap-end in a female split cavity die to desired dimensions.
- the flange-end is manufactured by cutting a blank of predetermined shape from a suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep draw machine, advancing a tool against the blank and against resistance of a resilient bag under pressure to form a top-hat shape, cutting a flange profile from the top-hat rim, machining off the blank end of the top-hat, and expanding the open-end of the top hat and expanding the open-ended top hat into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy.
- the track-can further includes a central body portion which is manufactured by deep drawing from a blank cut of suitable metal, and having two interface regions for connection to the interface regions of said cap-end and said flange end respectively.
- the central body portion of the track-can is made by cutting a blank from a suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep-draw machine, advancing a tool against the blank and against resistance of a resilient bag under pressure to form a top-hat shape, machining off the end of the top-hat and the rim of the top-hat and expanding the open ended cylinder into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy.
- the components of the track-can are placed on pallets in pairs and offered to an extending mandrel which is then raised to the vicinity of a welding tool carried by a robotic arm.
- the arm is positioned adjacent the ends of the pairs of parts to be mated and the mandrel rotated beneath the welding arm to form a circular weld. This process is repeated to mate the previously mated two components to the remaining component.
- a method of manufacturing a track-can or the like including the steps of: separately manufacturing a plurality of substantially tubular parts, at least one of which is made by deep drawing from a blank cut from suitable material, and each of said plurality of tubular parts having at least one interface regions which has a shape which corresponds to the shape of an interface regions of another of said plurality of tubular parts to which it is to be connected; and connecting the plurality of tubular parts at their interface regions to form the track-can.
- tubular should not be taken to imply that the parts must be cylindrical in shape.
- Fig. 1 the starboard wing 1 of a jet airliner having podded underslung engines 2 has leading edge slats 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 extending along the leading edge of the wing 1 from a wing tip region 8 to a wing root region 9.
- the slats are powered by a pairs of rotary actuators 10, and rack and pinions 11.
- a shaft 12 links the rotary actuators and is driven by a power control unit 13 located in the fuselage of the aircraft via a T-gearbox 14 and a right-angled gearbox 15.
- the shaft 12 also drives an asymmetry position pickoff unit 16 and a wing tip brake unit 17.
- Track-cans 18 are located within the wing to receive the racks of the rack and pinion mechanisms 11 whenever the slats 3-7 are retracted, as will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2C.
- FIG. 2A is shown a cross-section through the wing shown in Fig. 1 along the line I-I and looking towards the wing tip area 8.
- a main wing box is bounded by upper and lower wing skin surfaces 20 and 21, and by trailing and leading wing walls 22 and 23.
- Fuel 24, indicated by cross-hatching, is carried within the main wing box section.
- Attached to the trailing wing wall 22 is an aerodynamically shaped trailing edge section 25.
- a slat 5 is mounted for arcuate movement between an extended position, shown hatched, and a fully retracted position, indicated by full lines, within a track 26 extending arcuately through an oval or circular aperture 27 in the leading wing wall 23.
- the slat carries a rack 28 which engages a pinion 29 located ahead of the leading wing wall 23.
- the rack 28 is carried on an arm 30 which is slideably mounted within the track 26 and between rollers 31 and 32.
- the length of the track indicated by the numeral 33, determines the length of slat travel, in this case 24 degrees arcuate. Because the track 26 extends into the main wing box section it must be protected from fuel 24 and this protection is provided by track-can 18, which completely surrounds the track 26 and is bolted to the leading wing wall 23 adjacent the aperture 27.
- Fig. 2B is a cross-section of the wing of Fig. 1 along the line II-II again looking in the direction of the wing tip region 8. Elements common to the section shown in Fig. 2A have been given identical reference numbers and will not be described again.
- the drive system at the section shown in Fig. 2B does not involve a rack and pinion but instead uses a rotary actuator 34 driving an articulated link 35 hinged about a pivot 36.
- the link 35 is also pivotally attached at 37 to arm 26 which, as before, is slideably mounted between track support rollers 31 and 32.
- a travel stop 38 determines the extent to which the slat 5 is moved forward of the main wing box in its extended position.
- the track 26 as before extends into the main wing box section and accordingly has to be protected from fuel 24 by means of track-can 18 which is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 2A.
- the closed end of the track-cans 18 may differ in shape according to the position of the track they cover within the main wing box section due to the proximity or otherwise of the wing skin surfaces 20 or 21 or attachments thereto.
- the closed end may have a planar portion 50.
- Fig. 2C shows a section through a typical track-can 18 which has a closed cap-end 39 and an open flange-end 40.
- the cap-end 39 may be provided with a drainage or bleed hole 41 and the flange-end is provided with an oval or circular flange 42 suitably drilled for securing to the leading wing wall 23 in Fig. 2A or Fig. 2B.
- a portion of the cap-end 39 at the closed end will be broader than the rest of the part.
- the conventional method of manufacture of track-cans 18 is to form them in two halves split along the line in a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 2C. The two halves are then seam welded along that line. It is difficult to automate such seam welding or, indeed, to perform it manually; and moreover the formation of the two halves requires a tool of unconventional shape.
- track-cans are formed from three separate components, i.e. the cap-end 39, the flange-end 40 (which may terminate as an oval at the end which will be the orifice of the formed can), and an open-ended body portion 43, shown in Fig. 2C.
- These components have substantially circular interface region edges which may be welded by robotic welding apparatus to form substantially circular welds 44.
- Figs. 3A - 3D illustrate steps in the manufacture of a cap-end for a track-can 18. The method is generally similar to that used to manufacture the flange-end 40 and the body section 43 but where there are differences these will be described.
- the first step in the manufacture of a cap-end 39 is to cut a circular blank 45 as shown in Fig. 3A from a sheet of aluminium or steel or titanium as desired.
- the blank 35 may be heat treated if required.
- the circular blank is placed in a fluid-form machine as shown schematically at 46 in Fig. 4.
- a top-hat shape is pre-formed by means of a punch 47 against the resistance of a rubber bag 48 filled with fluid under pressure and contained within an open-ended structure 49 within the fluid-form machine 46.
- the punch 47 may be provided with a relieved area 51 to provide a profile 50 to the closed end of the cap-end as required, depending on the intended location of the finished track-can within the wing box section.
- the preformed top-hat shape is then drawn into the elongated shape shown in Fig. 3C retaining the desired end-profile to suit the flap-track/spar configuration concerned.
- the drawn cap-end is then expanded in a female split cavity die to the desired dimensions.
- the open end rim may be machined to provide the desired configuration for connection to the body section 43.
- the top-hat shape may be removed and heat treated, as required.
- the final cap-end is shown in Fig. 3D.
- the flange-end of the track-can is formed in a similar manner to that described with reference to the cap-end above.
- a circular aluminium, steel or titanium blank is cut from a sheet of that material.
- the blank may be heat treated if desired and is then placed in a fluid-form machine and a cylindrical tool advanced against the blank against the resistance of a bag filled with fluid under pressure to form a top-hat shape.
- the desired flange profile is obtained by cutting from the top-hat rim; and the closed end of the top-hat shape is machined off.
- the open-ended top-hat is then expanded into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy and bolt holes are drilled in the flange to correspond with bolt holes in the leading wall of the wing box section.
- the body of the track-can is formed in a similar way except that the open end rim and the closed end of the top-hat shape are both machined off to form a generally cylindrical open-ended body.
- the open-ended body is expanded into a female tool of the desired arcuate profile for final dimensional accuracy.
- a flange-end 40 and a body 43 are shown positioned on a pallet 52 adjacent the base 53 of a robotic welding machine.
- An expanding mandrel 54 is slideably mounted on a vertical rail 55 above which is located a robotic arm 56 carrying welding terminals 57 and adjacent a supply 58 of welding material 59.
- the mandrel 54 is lowered and expanded as shown by the full line in Fig. 5 so as to pick up the two pieces 40 and 43 of the track-can, with their circular interface region edges in contact.
- the mandrel is then raised to the position shown hatched in Fig. 5 and the welding terminals 57 moved to a position adjacent the circular interface regions of the component parts of the track-can by means of the robotic arm 56.
- the mandrel 54 is then rotated and the circular interface regions welded together as they pass beneath the terminals 57.
- the welding operation described above is repeated using the now welded flange-end and body as one component and the cap-end of the track-can as the other.
- the finished track-can will have the form shown in Fig. 2C with welds 44 at the two circular interface regions.
- the track-can is manufactured from three parts, it could instead be manufactured from two parts, four parts, or more.
- the parts comprising the track-cans do not necessarily have to be cylindrical, or even substantially cylindrical. In some circumstances it may be advantageous to have the track-cans formed of parts having a square or rectangular cross-section (taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track-can).
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Shaping Metal By Deep-Drawing, Or The Like (AREA)
- Butt Welding And Welding Of Specific Article (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to the manufacture of aircraft track-cans or the like.
- Aerodynamic flying control surfaces such as slats and flaps are often powered by a system of rotary actuators and rack and pinions located in the leading edge of aircraft wings. The racks are arcuate to provide the required flap or slat movement and must extend into the main wing structure when retracted. It is quite common, particularly on large modern airliners, for fuel to be contained within the main wing structure. Accordingly, the wing is constructed in the form of a sealed container and means are provided to isolate the racks of the rack and pinions used to drive the flaps and slats from the fuel. It is known to provide apertures in the leading wall of the wing structure through which the racks may pass into the interior of flanged cans, known as track-cans, sealingly surrounding the apertures inside the wing structure.
- In order to keep the dimensions of the track-cans small to save weight and wasting fuel space, the track-cans are preferably made generally cylindrical but with arcuate longitudinal axes conforming to the arcuate movement of the racks they are to contain. The manufacture of track-cans thus shaped has hitherto comprised forming the cans (for example, by drop hammering) in two identical halves, split along the longitudinal axis, i.e. along the arc of the rack when retracted. After forming a flange is present around the periphery of each of the halves which must be removed before welding them together. This operation can lead to inaccuracies in the component, and, after removal of the flange, the halves are prone to distortion when handled. The two halves are initially tack welded together (in an attempt to prevent relative movement therebetween) and subsequently seam welded to form the required track-can. The seam welding process is difficult to perform manually and, furthermore, is not readily automated because of the long and arcuate nature of the seam. Further, formation of the two halves of the track-can requires a tool of unconventional shape but relatively high tolerance.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing track-cans or the like which makes use of relatively simple tooling and which simplifies welding operations.
- According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a track-can or the like including the steps of:
separately manufacturing at least a cap-end and a flange-end for the track-can, at least one of which is made by deep drawing from a blank cut from suitable metal, and each having an interface region; and
welding the flange-end and the cap-end at their interface regions to form the track-can. - Preferably the cap-end of the track-can is manufactured by cutting a blank of predetermined shape from a sheet of suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep draw machine pre-forming it into a top-hat shape by means of a punch, drawing the top-hat into an elongated shape with a predetermined end profile and expanding the drawn cap-end in a female split cavity die to desired dimensions.
- Preferably the flange-end is manufactured by cutting a blank of predetermined shape from a suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep draw machine, advancing a tool against the blank and against resistance of a resilient bag under pressure to form a top-hat shape, cutting a flange profile from the top-hat rim, machining off the blank end of the top-hat, and expanding the open-end of the top hat and expanding the open-ended top hat into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy.
- Optionally the track-can further includes a central body portion which is manufactured by deep drawing from a blank cut of suitable metal, and having two interface regions for connection to the interface regions of said cap-end and said flange end respectively.
- Preferably the central body portion of the track-can is made by cutting a blank from a suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep-draw machine, advancing a tool against the blank and against resistance of a resilient bag under pressure to form a top-hat shape, machining off the end of the top-hat and the rim of the top-hat and expanding the open ended cylinder into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy.
- Preferably the components of the track-can are placed on pallets in pairs and offered to an extending mandrel which is then raised to the vicinity of a welding tool carried by a robotic arm. The arm is positioned adjacent the ends of the pairs of parts to be mated and the mandrel rotated beneath the welding arm to form a circular weld. This process is repeated to mate the previously mated two components to the remaining component.
- According to another aspect of the prevent invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a track-can or the like, including the steps of:
separately manufacturing a plurality of substantially tubular parts, at least one of which is made by deep drawing from a blank cut from suitable material, and each of said plurality of tubular parts having at least one interface regions which has a shape which corresponds to the shape of an interface regions of another of said plurality of tubular parts to which it is to be connected; and
connecting the plurality of tubular parts at their interface regions to form the track-can. - The word "tubular" should not be taken to imply that the parts must be cylindrical in shape.
- A method according to the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a starboard wing of an airliner partly cut away;
- Fig. 2A is a cross-section through a typical wing slat drive system at a first wing location;
- Fig. 2B is a cross-section through a typical wing slat drive system at a further wing location;
- Fig. 2C is a cross-section through a track-can for use with the wing and drive systems shown in Figs. 1, 2A and 2B;
- Figs. 3A - 3D illustrate steps in the manufacturing sequence of a cap end component;
- Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fluid forming technique; and
- Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a track-can robotic welding apparatus.
- In the drawings, common elements have been given identical reference numbers for convenience of reference.
- In Fig. 1 the starboard wing 1 of a jet airliner having podded underslung engines 2 has leading
edge slats wing tip region 8 to a wing root region 9. The slats are powered by a pairs ofrotary actuators 10, and rack andpinions 11. Ashaft 12 links the rotary actuators and is driven by apower control unit 13 located in the fuselage of the aircraft via a T-gearbox 14 and a right-angled gearbox 15. Theshaft 12 also drives an asymmetryposition pickoff unit 16 and a wingtip brake unit 17. Track-cans 18 are located within the wing to receive the racks of the rack andpinion mechanisms 11 whenever the slats 3-7 are retracted, as will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2C. - In Fig. 2A is shown a cross-section through the wing shown in Fig. 1 along the line I-I and looking towards the
wing tip area 8. A main wing box is bounded by upper and lowerwing skin surfaces wing walls Fuel 24, indicated by cross-hatching, is carried within the main wing box section. Attached to thetrailing wing wall 22 is an aerodynamically shapedtrailing edge section 25. Aslat 5 is mounted for arcuate movement between an extended position, shown hatched, and a fully retracted position, indicated by full lines, within atrack 26 extending arcuately through an oval orcircular aperture 27 in the leadingwing wall 23. The slat carries arack 28 which engages apinion 29 located ahead of the leadingwing wall 23. Therack 28 is carried on anarm 30 which is slideably mounted within thetrack 26 and betweenrollers numeral 33, determines the length of slat travel, in thiscase 24 degrees arcuate. Because thetrack 26 extends into the main wing box section it must be protected fromfuel 24 and this protection is provided by track-can 18, which completely surrounds thetrack 26 and is bolted to the leadingwing wall 23 adjacent theaperture 27. - Fig. 2B is a cross-section of the wing of Fig. 1 along the line II-II again looking in the direction of the
wing tip region 8. Elements common to the section shown in Fig. 2A have been given identical reference numbers and will not be described again. The drive system at the section shown in Fig. 2B does not involve a rack and pinion but instead uses arotary actuator 34 driving an articulatedlink 35 hinged about apivot 36. Thelink 35 is also pivotally attached at 37 toarm 26 which, as before, is slideably mounted betweentrack support rollers travel stop 38 determines the extent to which theslat 5 is moved forward of the main wing box in its extended position. Thetrack 26 as before extends into the main wing box section and accordingly has to be protected fromfuel 24 by means of track-can 18 which is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 2A. The closed end of the track-cans 18 may differ in shape according to the position of the track they cover within the main wing box section due to the proximity or otherwise of the wing skin surfaces 20 or 21 or attachments thereto. For example, the closed end may have aplanar portion 50. - Fig. 2C shows a section through a typical track-can 18 which has a closed cap-
end 39 and an open flange-end 40. The cap-end 39 may be provided with a drainage or bleed hole 41 and the flange-end is provided with an oval orcircular flange 42 suitably drilled for securing to the leadingwing wall 23 in Fig. 2A or Fig. 2B. In some cases a portion of the cap-end 39 at the closed end will be broader than the rest of the part. The conventional method of manufacture of track-cans 18 is to form them in two halves split along the line in a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 2C. The two halves are then seam welded along that line. It is difficult to automate such seam welding or, indeed, to perform it manually; and moreover the formation of the two halves requires a tool of unconventional shape. - In a non-limiting example of a method according to the invention, track-cans are formed from three separate components, i.e. the cap-
end 39, the flange-end 40 (which may terminate as an oval at the end which will be the orifice of the formed can), and an open-endedbody portion 43, shown in Fig. 2C. These components have substantially circular interface region edges which may be welded by robotic welding apparatus to form substantially circular welds 44. - A method of manufacturing the various components of the track-
cans 18 will now be described with reference to Figs. 3A - 3D, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. - Figs. 3A - 3D illustrate steps in the manufacture of a cap-end for a track-
can 18. The method is generally similar to that used to manufacture the flange-end 40 and thebody section 43 but where there are differences these will be described. - The first step in the manufacture of a cap-
end 39 is to cut a circular blank 45 as shown in Fig. 3A from a sheet of aluminium or steel or titanium as desired. The blank 35 may be heat treated if required. Next the circular blank is placed in a fluid-form machine as shown schematically at 46 in Fig. 4. A top-hat shape is pre-formed by means of apunch 47 against the resistance of arubber bag 48 filled with fluid under pressure and contained within an open-endedstructure 49 within the fluid-form machine 46. Thepunch 47 may be provided with arelieved area 51 to provide aprofile 50 to the closed end of the cap-end as required, depending on the intended location of the finished track-can within the wing box section. - The preformed top-hat shape is then drawn into the elongated shape shown in Fig. 3C retaining the desired end-profile to suit the flap-track/spar configuration concerned.
- Finally, the drawn cap-end is then expanded in a female split cavity die to the desired dimensions. The open end rim may be machined to provide the desired configuration for connection to the
body section 43. During the forming process the top-hat shape may be removed and heat treated, as required. The final cap-end is shown in Fig. 3D. - The flange-end of the track-can is formed in a similar manner to that described with reference to the cap-end above. A circular aluminium, steel or titanium blank is cut from a sheet of that material. The blank may be heat treated if desired and is then placed in a fluid-form machine and a cylindrical tool advanced against the blank against the resistance of a bag filled with fluid under pressure to form a top-hat shape. In this case, however, the desired flange profile is obtained by cutting from the top-hat rim; and the closed end of the top-hat shape is machined off. The open-ended top-hat is then expanded into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy and bolt holes are drilled in the flange to correspond with bolt holes in the leading wall of the wing box section.
- The body of the track-can is formed in a similar way except that the open end rim and the closed end of the top-hat shape are both machined off to form a generally cylindrical open-ended body. The open-ended body is expanded into a female tool of the desired arcuate profile for final dimensional accuracy.
- Having manufactured the necessary three components of the track-can i.e. the cap-end, the flange-end and the body, the components are placed in pairs on pallets and positioned adjacent robotic welding apparatus as shown schematically in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5 a flange-
end 40 and abody 43 are shown positioned on apallet 52 adjacent thebase 53 of a robotic welding machine. An expandingmandrel 54 is slideably mounted on avertical rail 55 above which is located arobotic arm 56 carryingwelding terminals 57 and adjacent asupply 58 ofwelding material 59. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the following description of the operation of robotic welding machine shown in Fig. 5 all the functions are carried out automatically by the machine which has suitable power systems (not shown) for expanding, raising and lowering themandrel 54, moving therobotic arm 56, driving thefeed 58, and activating thewelding terminals 57. These functions may be performed sequentially under the control of a computer (not shown). - The
mandrel 54 is lowered and expanded as shown by the full line in Fig. 5 so as to pick up the twopieces welding terminals 57 moved to a position adjacent the circular interface regions of the component parts of the track-can by means of therobotic arm 56. Themandrel 54 is then rotated and the circular interface regions welded together as they pass beneath theterminals 57. - The welding operation described above is repeated using the now welded flange-end and body as one component and the cap-end of the track-can as the other. The finished track-can will have the form shown in Fig. 2C with
welds 44 at the two circular interface regions. - Although in the embodiment described, the track-can is manufactured from three parts, it could instead be manufactured from two parts, four parts, or more.
- It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many other deep-drawing processes could be used to form the track-cans, other than fluid forming.
- It should be appreciated that the parts comprising the track-cans do not necessarily have to be cylindrical, or even substantially cylindrical. In some circumstances it may be advantageous to have the track-cans formed of parts having a square or rectangular cross-section (taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track-can).
- Many further variations and modifications of the above technique will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.
Claims (6)
- A method of manufacturing a track-can (18) or the like including the steps of:
separately manufacturing at least a cap-end ( 39 ) and a flange-end ( 40 ) for the track-can, at least one of which is made by deep drawing from a blank (45) cut from suitable metal, and each having an interface region; and
welding the flange-end and the cap-end at their interface regions to form the track-can. - A method of manufacturing a track-can or the like as claimed in Claim 1, and wherein the cap-end of the track-can is manufactured by cutting a blank of predetermined shape from a sheet of suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep draw machine (46), pre-forming it into a top-hat shape by means of a punch (47), drawing the top-hat into an elongated shape with a predetermined end profile and expanding the drawn cap-end in a female split cavity die to desired dimensions.
- A method of manufacturing a track-can or the like as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, and wherein the flange-end is manufactured by cutting a blank of predetermined shape from a suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep draw machine, advancing a tool against the blank and against resistance of a resilient bag under pressure to form a top-hat shape, cutting a flange profile from the top-hat rim, machining off the blank end of the top-hat, and expanding the open-end of the top hat and expanding the open-ended top hat into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy.
- A method of manufacturing a track-can or the like as claimed in any preceding claim, and wherein the track-can further includes a central body portion (43) which is manufactured by deep drawing from a blank cut from suitable metal, and having two interface regions for connection to the interface regions of said cap-end and said flange end respectively.
- A method of manufacturing a track-can or the like as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the central body portion of the track-can is made by cutting a blank from a suitable metal, placing the blank in a deep- draw machine, advancing a tool against the blank and against resistance of a resilient bag under pressure to form a top-hat shape, machining off the end of the top-hat and the rim of the top-hat and expanding the open ended cylinder into a female tool for final dimensional accuracy.
- A method of manufacturing a track-can (18) or the like, including the steps of:
separately manufacturing a plurality of substantially tubular parts (40, 43, 39), at least one of which is made by deep drawing from a blank (45) cut from suitable material, and each of said plurality of tubular parts having at least one interface regions which has a shape which corresponds to the shape of an interface region of another of said plurality of tubular parts to which it is to be connected; and
connecting the plurality of tubular parts at their interface regions (44) to form the track-can.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB919104370A GB9104370D0 (en) | 1991-03-01 | 1991-03-01 | Manufacture of track cans |
GB9104370 | 1991-03-01 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0501831A1 true EP0501831A1 (en) | 1992-09-02 |
EP0501831B1 EP0501831B1 (en) | 1994-08-31 |
Family
ID=10690834
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92301743A Expired - Lifetime EP0501831B1 (en) | 1991-03-01 | 1992-02-28 | Manufacture of aircraft track-cans and the like |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5222653A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0501831B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69200358T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9104370D0 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2304656A (en) * | 1995-08-26 | 1997-03-26 | British Aerospace | Deployment mechanisms for aircraft auxiliary aerofoils |
EP1547720A1 (en) * | 2003-12-24 | 2005-06-29 | Airbus UK Limited | Welding process for large structures |
FR2902756A1 (en) * | 2006-06-21 | 2007-12-28 | Airbus Sas | Aircraft`s negative lifting system, has actuators connected to lower surface of movable element for displacing element between rest and braking configuration positions, where element forms leading edge slat of wing in rest position |
US7392928B2 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2008-07-01 | Airbus Uk Limited | Welding process for large structures |
WO2010122324A3 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2011-04-14 | Airbus Operations Limited | Aircraft assembly and spar |
US8424807B2 (en) | 2009-04-08 | 2013-04-23 | Airbus Operations Limited | Track container |
EP3034391A1 (en) * | 2014-12-15 | 2016-06-22 | Airbus Operations Limited | A track container |
WO2016196967A3 (en) * | 2015-06-03 | 2017-01-05 | Aerosud Technology Solutions (Pty) Ltd. | Composite slat can assembly |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB9208223D0 (en) * | 1992-04-14 | 1992-06-03 | British Aerospace | Diffusion bonding of aluminium and aluminium alloys |
ATE389066T1 (en) * | 2005-05-18 | 2008-03-15 | Plasser Bahnbaumasch Franz | WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR WELDING RAILS OF A TRACK |
ATE389750T1 (en) * | 2005-06-24 | 2008-04-15 | Plasser Bahnbaumasch Franz | WELDING MACHINE FOR WELDING RAILS OF A TRACK |
US8534611B1 (en) | 2009-07-17 | 2013-09-17 | The Boeing Company | Moveable leading edge device for a wing |
US8534610B1 (en) * | 2009-07-17 | 2013-09-17 | The Boeing Company | Method and apparatus for a leading edge slat on a wing of an aircraft |
GB201111922D0 (en) * | 2011-07-12 | 2011-08-24 | Airbus Operations Ltd | Leading edge rib assembly |
GB201120234D0 (en) * | 2011-11-23 | 2012-01-04 | Airbus Operations Ltd | Deployment system |
GB2584621A (en) * | 2019-05-24 | 2020-12-16 | Airbus Operations Ltd | An arrangement for avoiding clashing between an actuation assembly and an upper cover of a folding wing tip |
EP3878734B1 (en) * | 2020-03-11 | 2023-07-19 | Airbus Operations GmbH | Guiding element for a high lift airfoil arrangement of an aircraft, high lift airfoil arrangement and production method |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR978939A (en) * | 1949-01-14 | 1951-04-19 | New methods of manufacturing elbows for heating or other pipes | |
US4205546A (en) * | 1977-06-09 | 1980-06-03 | Spiro Investment S.A. | Process for forming curved hollow elements and an apparatus for carrying out this process |
EP0291328A2 (en) * | 1987-05-13 | 1988-11-17 | British Aerospace Public Limited Company | A mechanism for supporting and extending a high lift device for aircraft wings |
Family Cites Families (15)
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GB423174A (en) * | 1933-07-24 | 1935-01-24 | Gustaf Adolf Juhlin | Improvements relating to the construction of tanks and like enclosures |
US2560822A (en) * | 1945-11-08 | 1951-07-17 | Walton S Robinson | Means and method for making seamless pipe elbows |
GB623243A (en) * | 1947-04-18 | 1949-05-13 | Major Billingham | Improvements in the manufacture of buckets, baths and like receptacles |
US2659966A (en) * | 1949-04-09 | 1953-11-24 | Scaife Company | Method of fabricating welded girth joints |
GB690318A (en) * | 1951-12-05 | 1953-04-15 | Hilding Linde | Improvements in sheet metal receptacles |
US2966873A (en) * | 1955-01-11 | 1961-01-03 | Lockheed Aircraft Corp | Device for forming sheet material |
GB1197441A (en) * | 1966-06-13 | 1970-07-01 | Gkn Sankey Ltd | Improvements in or relating to Welding Together Pieces of Containers |
CH470292A (en) * | 1966-08-03 | 1969-03-31 | Giulio Gianetti Saronno S P A | Metal container for liquids and related manufacturing process |
US3635590A (en) * | 1970-02-16 | 1972-01-18 | Adrian Phillips | Propeller |
US3697193A (en) * | 1970-12-10 | 1972-10-10 | Adrian Phillips | Fluidfoil section |
US4129025A (en) * | 1977-02-25 | 1978-12-12 | Textron Inc. | Method of fabricating an expulsion tank diaphragm |
DE3038276A1 (en) * | 1980-10-10 | 1982-05-19 | Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG, 5000 Köln | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SIMILAR DEEP DRAWING SHEETS |
US4399970A (en) * | 1980-11-13 | 1983-08-23 | The Boeing Company | Wing leading edge slat |
US4801070A (en) * | 1987-05-11 | 1989-01-31 | Rohr Industries, Inc. | Engine duct and case construction |
FR2641216B1 (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1994-04-01 | Isoform | PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR STAMPING SHEET MATERIALS WITH DEFORMABLE PUNCHER UNDER DIVER |
-
1991
- 1991-03-01 GB GB919104370A patent/GB9104370D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-02-28 DE DE69200358T patent/DE69200358T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-02-28 EP EP92301743A patent/EP0501831B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-02-28 US US07/842,593 patent/US5222653A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR978939A (en) * | 1949-01-14 | 1951-04-19 | New methods of manufacturing elbows for heating or other pipes | |
US4205546A (en) * | 1977-06-09 | 1980-06-03 | Spiro Investment S.A. | Process for forming curved hollow elements and an apparatus for carrying out this process |
EP0291328A2 (en) * | 1987-05-13 | 1988-11-17 | British Aerospace Public Limited Company | A mechanism for supporting and extending a high lift device for aircraft wings |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2304656B (en) * | 1995-08-26 | 1999-10-13 | British Aerospace | Deployment mechanisms for aircraft auxiliary aerofoils |
US6149105A (en) * | 1995-08-26 | 2000-11-21 | British Aerospace Public Limited Company | Deployment mechanisms for aircraft auxiliary airfoils |
GB2304656A (en) * | 1995-08-26 | 1997-03-26 | British Aerospace | Deployment mechanisms for aircraft auxiliary aerofoils |
US7392928B2 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2008-07-01 | Airbus Uk Limited | Welding process for large structures |
EP1547720A1 (en) * | 2003-12-24 | 2005-06-29 | Airbus UK Limited | Welding process for large structures |
FR2902756A1 (en) * | 2006-06-21 | 2007-12-28 | Airbus Sas | Aircraft`s negative lifting system, has actuators connected to lower surface of movable element for displacing element between rest and braking configuration positions, where element forms leading edge slat of wing in rest position |
US8424807B2 (en) | 2009-04-08 | 2013-04-23 | Airbus Operations Limited | Track container |
WO2010122324A3 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2011-04-14 | Airbus Operations Limited | Aircraft assembly and spar |
US9248903B2 (en) | 2009-04-23 | 2016-02-02 | Airbus Operations Limited | Aircraft assembly and spar |
EP3034391A1 (en) * | 2014-12-15 | 2016-06-22 | Airbus Operations Limited | A track container |
GB2533311A (en) * | 2014-12-15 | 2016-06-22 | Airbus Operations Ltd | A track container |
WO2016196967A3 (en) * | 2015-06-03 | 2017-01-05 | Aerosud Technology Solutions (Pty) Ltd. | Composite slat can assembly |
US10407155B2 (en) | 2015-06-03 | 2019-09-10 | Aerosud Technology Solutions (Pty) Ltd. | Composite slat can assembly and methods of making same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0501831B1 (en) | 1994-08-31 |
DE69200358T2 (en) | 1994-12-22 |
DE69200358D1 (en) | 1994-10-06 |
GB9104370D0 (en) | 1991-04-17 |
US5222653A (en) | 1993-06-29 |
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